India has made significant progress in recognizing the rights of transgender individuals. In 2014, the Supreme Court of India recognized transgender people and granted them legal protection as complete citizens in the bill that became an act in 2019 - The Transgender Persons Act.

However, there is still a long way to go when it comes to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for transgender-identifying individuals. Conventionally speaking, in most mainstream films and tv, even in minor roles, the representation tends to be disturbingly polarized. 

Transgender and Non-Binary individuals are often depicted as the antagonists of the stories, or subjected to offensive humor often portrayed as the worst kind of comic stereotype. Very often they are seen to be preying on the cisgender male hero or turned into exaggerated effeminate caricatures who exist to elicit laughs. 

Representation Matters. In 2020, GLAAD and P&G released LGBTQ Inclusion in Advertising and Media, a study that found that non-LGBTQ respondents who had been exposed to LGBTQ characters and stories in media were more likely to accept LGBTQ people and be supportive of LGBTQ issues compared to respondents who had not been exposed to LGBTQ images in the media. 80% of non-LGBTQ respondents who had been exposed to LGBTQ people in films/TV/advertising say they are more supportive of equal rights for LGBTQ people when compared to the respondents who had not recently seen LGBTQ people in the media (70%).

While this has been a significant legal and social victory for the transgender community in India, there is still a long way to go when it comes to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for transgender-identifying individuals. One of the key ways to achieve this is through positive and sensitive trans representation in mainstream Indian culture.

Despite the rampant transphobia, one particular trope is extremely popular, even today in 2023. Cisgender folks playing trans roles for awards. Celebrated, A-list actors have all dressed in drag one time or the other. But as Glaad media and the The award-winning documentary Disclosure does an incredible job of showcasing the real-life impact of having cisgender-identifying folks portraying transgender characters on scenes. 

In India since the time of British Colonization, the transgender community has been inhumanely criminalized, marginalized, and subjected to discrimination and violence. This has contributed to a culture of intolerance, making it difficult for transgender-identifying individuals to live their lives freely and without fear.

We know now that sensitive representation is also crucial for promoting greater personal acceptance and understanding. The transgender community faces unique challenges and experiences, that can often be difficult for cisgender-identifying folks to comprehend fully. For this reason, it is important that media representation is handled with care. This means avoiding harmful stereotypes and tropes, and instead portraying trans individuals as complex, nuanced individuals with unique stories and experiences like all other characters.

Moreover, positive representation can also help to inspire trans individuals to pursue their dreams and ambitions, and to believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. This can be especially important in a society like India, where trans individuals are often denied educational and employment opportunities due to discrimination and prejudice. We often end up limiting what we dream as possibilities because society tells us we can’t have those dreams.

Positive and sensitive representation is essential for creating a more inclusive and accepting society. By challenging negative stereotypes and promoting greater understanding and acceptance, we can help to create a culture where all individuals are valued and respected regardless of their gender identity.